Taking Charge Of A Motor Cruiser For The First Time

Motor boating is a fun and relaxing pastime, and many boat owners spend as much of their spare time as possible on their boats. There are many different types of motor cruiser available, from small craft for cruising up and down the River Thames, on the Norfolk Broads, or exploring the canals, to larger craft for cruising in coastal waters, and motor yachts for seagoing expeditions. 

If you have never been in charge of a motor boat but think that you might want to buy a boat, the best thing to do is to book a motor cruising holiday. There are many boatyards on the Thames and the Norfolk Broads where you can hire a boat for a week or two, and if you can drive a car you already have some of the basics. However, handling a motor cruiser is nonetheless somewhat different from a car. You will need some basic instruction from the yard on handling, checking the engine in the morning, mooring, pump-out stations (where you can have the toilets emptied), dealing with locks if you are on the Thames or a canal, and so on, but in an hour or so you should be confident enough to take control for the first time.

The Norfolk Broads are great if you love being on the water and getting away from it all, but they can become extremely busy during the summer holidays. The best time to hire a motor cruiser on the Broads is late spring and early summer, when the trees are coming into leaf and bud. Much of the Broads is tidal and the difference in the water height can be several feet, so if you moor in a tidal area overnight you need to make certain that the mooring ropes are not too tight, so that the boat can drop with the tide.

Another point about mooring is that you need to moor for the night while there is still plenty of daylight. It is not a good idea to be searching for a mooring in the dark! After a week or two of cruising, you should be competent handling a boat and you will know whether you want to invest in your own.

Top 5 maintenance tips for your boat

Having a boat is a fantastic thing and a true sign of luxury. As well as being envied by your peers, you will be able to access the outdoors in a way that many people are not able to. Ultimately, driving across the open water is an amazing experience that only boat lovers will truly understand.

Having said this, the privilege of owning a boat also comes with a substantial amount of responsibility. It’ll all well and good to have fun on your boat, but you need to remember it is a sophisticated machine that also needs proper maintenance and care.

Before you buy a boat you should be committed to proper boat maintenance to keep it running smoothly for as long as possible.

Here are five key maintenance tips that you should keep in mind when taking care of your boat.

Wash your boat regularly

You probably already know this but it's shocking how many people don’t actually wash their boats regularly. As it is constantly in the water, you might think it is unnecessary, but this is far from the truth. It’s important to use fresh water to wash your boat to remove salt residue that will build up over time and corrode metal word, hardware and deteriorate your gel coat.

Check and change your oil

Just like your car, boats need to have their oil checked and changed routinely. You will either have to learn to change the oil by yourself for certain models or if you have a motor cruiser, you should take it to the shop for a full service.

With the right tools, it is quite easy to change the oil yourself. All you need is an oil wrench, an oil extractor pump and lots of rags.

Clean and check your batteries

Even if not in use, power drains and leaks from your boat due to regular entropy. Left unchecked, you can be stranded in the middle of nowhere without power. Check your batteries at least once a season.

If not in use, take out your batteries and store them to preserve energy. Before any journey, test batteries with a voltage meter to determine how much charge is left. Also, clean battery connections so you know the electrical juice is getting to where it’s needed the most.

Clean Windows properly

Frequent boat cleaning should be on your boat maintenance checklist. Especially windows near the waterline and below. Household window cleaners will suffice but special cleaners are available if you prefer. Find what works for your boat. Just make sure your windows are clean!

Check the propeller

If your boat is an outboard or sterndrive boat, you should check the propeller as part of your pre-launch routine. Look carefully to ensure any fishing line hasn't become wrapped around the propeller shaft. Inspect for typical signs of damage. A damaged prop will vibrate and put too much stress on bearings and seals causing additional damage.

Store properly during Winter

During winter, find indoor storage solutions or climate controlled interior docks to store your boat. Or you can use tarpaulin or backyard shed if you store your boat on land.

Proper boat maintenance will keep your boat healthy and give you optimum life span. Regularly update your maintenance routine to accommodate updated checks and always take care of your boat no matter what your schedule is like or what season it is. If you look after your boat it will look after you!